Description
Book SynopsisWriting for a Change shows teachers how to engage students in real world problem-solving activities that can help them to acquire voice, authority, and passion for both reading and writing practice. Written in collaboration with the Center for Social Action in England, the book describes the innovative Social Action process for encouraging students to collaborate on problems of their own choosingto analyze options, develop action plans, discover solutions, and finally to reflect on their work. Featuring stories by teachers who have successfully used the method, the book shows that first graders as well as high-school students can enjoy this exciting and educational process. Practical guidance for applying the process to any curricular area is provided along with an extensive list of classroom activities.
Trade Review"This informative paperback discusses the development of teacher-facilitated and student-driven social action projects." (
Childhood Education, Fall 2007)
"This book engages with an integrative framework of literacy acceleration and critical social action." (PsycCritiques, 09/06/2007)
Table of ContentsForeword, Richard Sterling xi
Sponsors xiii
Preface xv
Editors and Contributors xxi
ONE Exploring Student-Driven Learning and Literacy Through Social Action 1
PART ONE Social Action in Practice 9
TWO Power Play 11
Paula Laub
THREE Lending Student Voice to Curriculum Planning 19
Dietta Poston Hitchcock
FOUR The Story of the Youth Dreamers: In Their Own Words 25
Mildred Harris, Chantel Morant, Shanta Crippen, Chris Lawson, Chekana Reid, Cierra Cary, Tiffani Young-Smith
FIVE Reflections on the Youth Dreamers 31
Kristina Berdan
SIX Community Action in a Summer Writing Institute 43
Chinwe “La Tanya” Obijiofor
SEVEN Changing Our World 51
Lori Farias, Critics of Society Class
EIGHT Poetry and Power in the Creative Writing Workshop 57
Maggie Folkers
NINE Shall We Dance? 63
Connie Ellard Bunch
TEN The March on John Philip Sousa 67
Elizabeth A. Davis
ELEVEN Social Action and Parent Involvement 73
Mildred Serra
PART TWO Getting Started with Social Action 79
TWELVE Learning from Social Action: Reflections on Teaching and Social Action 81
THIRTEEN Principles for Practice: What Is Social Action? 87
Jennie Fleming, Ian Boulton
FOURTEEN Recommendations for the Classroom: Before You Start 97
Jennie Fleming, Ian Boulton
PART THREE Stuff You Can Try: Activities for Social Action 107
Metro Map 111
Naming the Group 113
Community Vocabulary 115
Devising the Vision 117
How We Behave in Groups 119
Movie Poster 121
Four Faces 124
But Why? 127
Codes 132
Changing Your Mind 134
Sculpts 136
The Three C’s 138
SWOT 140
Ideal Specimen 142
Force Field Analysis 144
Worst Nightmare 147
Now/Soon/Later 149
The Swimming Pool 151
Messages 153
References 155
Resources for Further Reading 157
Index 159
